Not just for touring bikes anymore...
#51
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Join Date: Mar 2011
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Bikes: 2013 Surly Disc Trucker, 2004 Novara Randonee , old fixie , etc
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I have had them on a couple bikes and really didn't care for them. There were several reasons not all of which apply to every size frame. These are all based on my experience for my bikes, my fit choices, and so on, so YMMV. Some of these are touring oriented and some more racing/performance oriented.
- I tended to bump them out of the desired gear accidentally while riding, usually while standing to climb.
- They tended to get bumped out of gear when leaned against a wall or whatever when I took a break to get a drink or snack or shop or whatever. Then when I started out it wouldn't be in gear.
- Once in a while I banged up a knee or thigh on them.
- I actually found them less handy to reach than down tube shifters which were the other popular choice at the time. People often complained that they had to reach further down to reach down tube shifters, but on my bikes they were at the exact same height given my frame size and preferred bar height. If I wanted to shift the front and back i could even do both with only one hand going to the shifters.
- I had a few buddies who were jerks and liked to reach over and shift them for me
#52
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Using 5x3 gearing the spacing is sufficient that a 1" movement of the lever means a one gear shift. Well, maybe not an inch but some other movement that will result in one gear change and is so automatic it might as well be indexed. That being said, I've converted all my stuff to indexed 7x3. It's easier, especially when tired and can save your knees by giving you more choices. Friction shifting a seven is more difficult and makes trimming more often nesssesary.
#53
Senior Member
Using 5x3 gearing the spacing is sufficient that a 1" movement of the lever means a one gear shift. Well, maybe not an inch but some other movement that will result in one gear change and is so automatic it might as well be indexed. That being said, I've converted all my stuff to indexed 7x3. It's easier, especially when tired and can save your knees by giving you more choices. Friction shifting a seven is more difficult and makes trimming more often nesssesary.